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How much do chem. relaxers & straightening irons damage?

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Robert View Drop Down
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    Posted: February 21 2000 at 1:53pm
My wife is 1/4 African, 1/4 Sioux, 1/4 Dutch and 1/4 French. Her hair is fine and naturally curly, and is bra-strap length, although she'd like to grow it to her elbows. About every 3-4 months for the past 15 years she has gotten it chemically relaxed, which turns it from tight ringlets that tend to frizz, into waves with a lot of volume. What she'd really like is smooth, straight hair. Every other time she has it relaxed, she has a clear cellophane treatment applied, which adds nice shine to the rich medium brown color.

Because of how long it takes to air-dry, she usually washes her hair only once a week (which really isn't often enough). A few hours after washing, she winds it up into a "snail" on each side of her head, and sleeps with it that way. On subsequent nights, she braids it up, which unfortunately introduces more wave than she'd like. Lately, I've been setting it on large rollers and putting her under a dryer bonnet (on medium heat) immediately after she washes it, which helps straighten it and allows her to wear it down the next day. At night, she now wraps it around her head in a sort of "turban", held in place by a net scarf. In the morning it comes out much smoother than it used to with the braid.

The last time she had the relaxer done, the stylist used a straightening iron immediately after the relaxer, and her hair came out looking literally the best it has ever looked - smooth, straight and shiny. My question (finally!) is this: how much will the careful and professional use of a straightening iron damage her hair? I'd hate to think that she's trading short-term success for hair that will start breaking off from heat damage. On the other hand, she is now very happy with hair that she has always hated in the past; and I'd gladly pay for her to be able to visit her stylist weekly for a washing and straightening - an opportunity she is happy to take, so long as it won't have disasterous effects.

Can anyone speak from professional or personal experience as to how much of a risk of damage there is from straightening irons, or sugest ways to lessen, prevent or repair that damage? Thanks in advance for any responses. Please feel free to e-mail me off-list at RHaines427@aol.com.
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mxggurrl View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mxggurrl Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 15 2000 at 10:33pm
I'm no expert, but if the person who is doing it is professional, then she should have nothing to worry about, because they definitely know what they're doing! I straighten my own hair every day, and i have a conair steam straightener. The steam helps reduce damage... and makes hair look shiny. so if your wife is worried, maybe she should go get it relaxed, and then you two should invest in a steam straightener and try doing it yourselves, and see the results....
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reddish_eggg View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote reddish_eggg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 31 2003 at 2:55pm
My question is to mxggurrl. It's about the steam iron you said you're using. I'd like to know please what the condition of your hair is. Is it too dry or/and too curly or is it just wavy? I've heard that steam irons don't get hair totally straight in case tht your hair is really curly and that they're mainly good for those with not very curly hair.
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